Combined hydroscope and grappler



Jan. 29, 1935. F. w. ARNOLD COMBINED HYDROSCOPE AND GRAPPLER Filed July 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 !1 I'll gwucmm ,FRED W flRNOLD Jan. 29, 1935. F. w. ARNOLD 1,939,443

COMBINED HYDROSCOPE AND GRAPPLER Filed July 17, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 I 31 6 x I a m I FRED Wflmw Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES COMBINED HYDROSCOPE AND GRAB? Fred W. Arnold, Cambridge, Obie Application July 17, 1934, Serial No. 7.2.,

Claims. (01. 294-46) Y The invention forming the subject matter of this application relates generally to instruments designed to enable a person to view objects below the surface of a body of water from above the said surface, and to recover the objects aforesaid.

The invention is particularly designed for the speedy recovery of the bodies of persons submerged belowthe surface of the water. It is well known that the saving of a few moments in the time of recovery of such bodies may result in the saving of life. It is, therefore, the main object ofthe present invention to provide an apparatus capable of engaging the body of a submerged person, and provided with means for illuminating the engaging mechanism so as to direct it toward the body or bodies sought to be recovered.

A further object of the invention is to provide an instrument which will greatly facilitate search for objects beneath the surfaces of bodies of water, and which at the same time can be used to grapple or engage such objectfor the purpose of recovering the same. i

Other objects will be disclosed as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of embodied in the present invention; 1

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation, with parts shown in section, of the grappling 'end of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the the apparatus parts shown inFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary theparts shownin Figure 3; a

Figure 5 is a bottom plan showninFigures 3,and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail of a'locl'ring connection between the grappling mechanism and the main supporting member of the apparatus; and

Figure '1 is a perspective view of one of the sections which comprise the main supporting member of the apparatus.

In the drawings, in which like numerals designate similar parts:

Numeral 1 designates generally a central supside elevation'of view of the parts porting member in the form of a tube. This member 1 is built up of any desired number of tubular sections 2 connected to each other by means of the union joints 3. The upper section 4 has suitably secured thereto an eye piece 5 of flexible material; and the lower section has detachably secured thereto by means of the lower union joints 6, the grappling and illuminating which may be considered as a sighting member.

general direction of the sighting member 1.

- section 8.

part of the apparatus designated generally by the reference numeral 7.

The part 7 comprises a tube 8 secured by the union Joints 6 to the lower section 2 of the supporting member 1; and this tube at its lower end is provided with a sight window 9 through which may be viewed the bed of a stream or other body of water and any object or objects which may come within the field of view of the member 1,

Extending laterally from opposite sides of the tube 8 are a pair of pipes 11 and 12 which are bent downwardly in the direction of the window 9. to receive the fittings 13 and 14, respectively, by means of which the illuminating tubes 15 and 16 are connected to the tube 8. Each of the tubes 15 and 16 isprovided with a lamp 17 which may be energized by wiring 18, extending through the pipes 11 and 12 and upwardly through the sighting-member i to be connected to any suitable source of electric supply.

The lower end of'each of the tubes 15 and 16 is provided with a dispersion lens 19 adapted to direct the rays of light from the lamps 17 in the The tubes 15 and 16 and the central section 8 have their axes lying in the same plane. Near the lower end of the tubes 15 and 16 and section -8, the grappling mechanism is detachably connected thereto by means of the clamping plates 20 and' '21, arranged on opposite sides of the section 8, and secured in position thereon by meansof the screws. 22 and 23 on opposite sides of the Shafts 24 and 25 extend vrotatably throug bearings formed in the'plates 21 and 22, and

. have any suitable number of-tines 26 secured to said shafts. Rotation is imparted to these shafts by means. of the levers 27 and 28 extending radially from and secured to the shafts 24 and 25,

respectively. Links 29 and 30 are pivotally connected at their" lower ends to the levers 27 and 28, respectively; and, at their upper ends, are pivotally connected to the lower section 31 of an operating rod designated generally by therei'er ence numeral 32. The remaining sections-33 of the rod 32 extend slidably through clamps 34 which are detachably clamped in any desired position along the section 2 of the supporting sight member 1.

It will be evident from inspection of Figure 1 of the drawings that when the rod 32 is pulled upwardly from the position shown in Figure 1, the levers 27 and 28 will be operated to rotate the tines as into the dotted line position shown,

adjustment in the clamps 34.

in Figure 3 of the drawings, and thereby enable the apparatus to draw any object supported by the tines to the surface of a body of water.

To facilitate the operation of the apparatus,

.the upper section 4 is provided with a hand grip the apparatus. The upper clamping member 34 has the end engaging the rod section 33 provided with a screwthreaded aperture adapted to receive a set screw 41 having a crank 42 secured tothe head thereof so as to enable the operator to clamp the rod 32 in any desired position of The said upper section of the rod 32 may also be provided with a laterally extending handle 43 to facilitate raising and lowering the same for the purpose of operating the grappling mechanism at the lower end of the apparatus. 1

In the operation of this apparatus, it may be found desirable to weight the lower end thereof. For this purpose the lower section 2 may be provided with a support 44 adapted to receive any number of weights 45. Wherever it may be nec-.

essary to avoid injury to the objects grappled by the apparatus, any.suitable attachments such as the rubber covers 46 may be suitably secured to the tines 26.

The invention is not to be considered as limited to the particular form of the grappling mechanism shown in the drawings. The number of tines will depend upon the sizes of the objects to be recovered; and in some cases these tines may be used to support nets or screens fine enough to insure recovery of a large number of small objects.

WhatIclaimisry 1. A combinedhydroscopeand.grappler comprising a sighting tube, grappling mechanism supported by the lower end of said tube and exconnected sections, an eye piece at the upper end of said tube and a sight window closing the lower end thereof, means on opposite sides of the lower end of said tube for projecting rays of light and dispersing said rays in the general direction of the axis of said tube, bearing plates secured on opposite sides of said tube, shafts rotatable in said plates and having grappling tines extending radially therefrom, and means slidably connected to said tube and operable from the upper end thereof to control the rotation of said shafts.

3. A combined hydroscope and gra plercomprising a sighting tube built up of detachably connected sections, an eye piece at the upper end of said tube and a sight window closing the lower end thereof, means on opposite sides of the lower end of said tube for projecting rays of light and dispersing said rays in the general direction of the axis of said tube, bearing plates secured on opposite sides of said tube, shafts rotatable in said plates and having grappling tines extending radially therefrom, and means slidably connected to said tube and operable from the upper end thereof to control the rotation of said shafts,

and means for locking said sliding means in any position of adjustment relative to the sighting tube.

4. A combined hydroscope and grappler comprising a sighting tube, grappling mechanism supported bythe lower end of said tube and extending from opposite sides thereof, means carried by said tube for illuminating said grappling vmechanism and the lower end of said tube, means slidable lengthwise of said tube for operating said grappling mechanism, and means for looking said slidable means in any desired position of adjustment lengthwise "of said tube.

5. A combined hydroscope and grappler comprising a sighting tube, grappling mechanism supported by the lower end of said tube and extending from opposite sides thereof, means carried by said tube for illuminating said grappling mechanism and the lower end of said tube, means slidable lengthwise of said tube for operating said grappling mechanism, means for locking said slidable means in any desired position of adjustment lengthwise of said tube, and means s'ecured to said sighting tube near the upper end thereof, and adapted to be engaged by the shoulders of the operator to facilitate movement of the apparatus as a whole.

' FRED W. ARNOLD. 

